Batgirls #5 Review

Better Focus Means A Better Comic

Written by: Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad

Art by: Jorge Corona

Colors by: Sarah Stern

Letters by: Becca Carey

Cover art by: Jorge Corona, Sarah Stern

Cover price: $3.99

Release date: April 12, 2022

 

Batgirls #5 puts the Cauldron hot on the Tutor's trail as they find out the background behind Tutor's origins and a (not-so) surprising connection to Charles Dante.

 Was It Good? 

 

Batgirls #5 gets a provisional gold star for "most improved." Does that make this a great comic? No, but it is an okay comic. Or at least it manages to stay out of the "infuriating/annoying" lane.

The most significant improvement comes by way of focus. At the beginning of the issue, the Saints are dispatched with relative ease to take them off the table (for now). The odd plot point about the (younger) Batgirls using a car for transport without Babs's knowledge or permission is finally addressed. And the villain's focus shifts squarely on Tutor. So, the focus is better, some of the lingering questions that add nothing to the story are getting addressed, and it feels like the story is picking up momentum.

Through tech shenanigans and the accidental acquisition of a Magistrate robo-dog, the Cauldron figures out Tutor has been using the now-abandoned Arkham Asylum as a headquarters. They find the hospital records spelling out Tutor's identity, past, and the (not-a-surprise) connection with Charles Dante.

The art is from Corona, and Stern is consistent with the style of the previous issues. It's, perhaps, too stylized for some tastes, but if you liked it in the past, you'd continue to like it here.

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Bits and Pieces

 

Batgirls #5 earns a gold star in the series for "most improved" by paring back the number of villains taking up page space and focusing on the conflict. The tone and style of the art are consistent with the previous issues, so this net issue turns out to be just okay, which is an improvement.

7.5/10